Tajikistan Opposition Politician Dies in Prison

The Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP) says the group's deputy leader, Shamsiddin Shamsiddinov, died from cancer on Wednesday. Shamsiddinov was arrested in 2003, and sentenced a year later to 16 years in prison for a series of charges including illegal border crossing and polygamy.

The IRP says he was targeted for his political views.

The IRP fought the former Soviet republic's Moscow-backed government during a 1992-1997 civil war. The party later entered a power-sharing agreement with the government.

In other news, Tajik security officials say more than 500 kilograms of illegal drugs were seized during a raid along the country's border with Afghanistan Thursday.

Officials say several smugglers have also been detained.
Source: By VOA News